This novel in the acclaimed Marcus Didius Falco series finds the first-century detective confronting Roman legal forces that may just destroy him—and his family.

Fresh from a trip to far-flung Londinium in Britain, Falco needs to reestablish his presence in Rome. A minor role in the trial of a senator entangles him in the machinations of two powerful lawyers. The senator is convicted but then dies, apparently by suicide. It may have been a legal move to protect his heirs; Falco is hired to prove it was murder.

As he shows off his talents in the role of advocate, Falco exposes himself to a tangle of upper-class secrets and powerful elements in Rome’s legal hierarchy that may have unintended—if not fatal—consequences.

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Quotes & Awards

“Cheerful and informal cynicism in a solemnly detailed classical setting.”

Times Literary Supplement (London)

“Imagine what would happen if Law & Order merged with a toga party in Animal House and you have Davis’ latest. Her skill comes from a unique ability to merge history, mystery, and humor. She keeps you guessing, while you’re laughing at the sharp dialogue in this entertaining detective story.”

RT Book Reviews (4 stars)

“Davis’ stellar historical, the fifteenth entry in this witty and learned series…gives Davis the opportunity to explore the vagaries of Roman law, which she approaches with her usual mix of respect and sarcasm…Wry, cynical, and principled, Falco makes the perfect guide to Davis’ vividly realized ancient Rome.”

Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“Falco is back, cheeky as ever, this time matching his wits against two sleek lawyers…Of course, Falco uncovers the truth, though just barely; the ending is a surprise and surprisingly affecting…Top-notch work in a top-notch series.”

Library Journal

“Falco is a personable hero, and the stories are always suspenseful and surprising. Also, Davis knows how to stage a mystery against a historical backdrop without overwhelming us with information…[and] continues to mix its history and its mystery in a pleasing blend.”

Booklist

“Davis’ sprightly narrative focuses on customs, history, and details of the Metellus and Falco households and takes its time unraveling the mystery”

Listener Reviews

" Very good mystery - lots of twists and turns - but all very plausable "

Alora | 2/5/2014

" I really like this series and I look forward to the next. I recommend you start at the beginning because you get to know the main character from the start. "

Roshni | 12/18/2013

" Fantastic book about ancient Roman politics and judicial system. The main character has a wry sense of humor and a cynical view of the world, which make the book very enjoyable. Overall, the book was very satisfying. "

Bibimus | 12/17/2013

" I found this was quite hard to get through, it meandered through the story and was never going to finish. This is unusual as I generally like the Falco books. The lawyers were annoying, and contributed to the dullness of the whole book. "

Linda | 12/7/2013

" Very talky mystery set in ancient Rome. Relatively well written with good historic detail. "

Jill | 12/3/2013

" I love this series. It makes Rome in the first century come alive. "

Nancy | 11/28/2013

" Marcus and his cohort gumshoes are drawn into a prominent family's complicated problems. Irreverent, seedy and everyday ancient Rome and its judicial system star. "

Andrea | 11/26/2013

" I think I would have liked this better if I'd read earlier books in the series. Between coming in late and knowing next to nothing about the time period, I spent a lot of time pretty much lost. "

Kate | 11/26/2013

" Another excellent story in the series - they never let me down "

Zen | 11/26/2013

" Pretty good, though it took me a while to get into it. Enjoyed the half-remembered Roman law. "

Christina | 7/23/2013

" This wasn't one of my favorite Falco mysteries. It didn't seem as funny as some of the others, and I guess I'm not as interested in the details of the legal system. It was good, but not my favorite Falco. "

Rissi | 3/31/2013

" enjoyable Falco mystery "

Gordon | 1/29/2013

" another wry and cynical look at the seamier side of ancient Rome with the excellent detective Falco. "

Lizzie | 5/12/2012

" Falco has some testing times in this outing. A good read, but my least favourite of the series. "

Keeley | 4/11/2012

" Quite convoluted for a Davis novel. As usual, good for the beach/airport. "

About the Author

Lindsey Davis is an English novelist of historical fiction and best known for her award-winning historical crime stories set in ancient Rome and its empire, the acclaimed Marcus Didius Falco series and the Flavia Albia series. Her novels have won numerous awards, including the Crime Writers’ Association Ellis Peters Historical Dagger Award and in 2011 the Cartier Diamond Dagger from the Crime Writers Association for lifetime achievement. Born and raised in Birmingham, England, she read English at Oxford and worked for the civil service for thirteen years before becoming a writer.

About the Narrator

Simon Prebble, a British-born performer, is a stage and television actor and veteran narrator of some three hundred audiobooks. As one of AudioFile’s Golden Voices, he has received thirty-seven Earphones Awards and won the prestigious Audie in 2010. He lives in New York.

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